Research

Research Priorities: Circulation patterns in bodies of water, consequences of climate change for oceans, environmental technology, sustainable development, paleoclimatology

Peter Schlosser’s research covers earth and environmental sciences, environmental engineering, and sustainable development. He primarily studies the dynamic of the natural water cycle in oceans, groundwater and continental bodies of water as well as the effects of disturbances to these systems relative to their sustainability.

Peter Schlosser examines natural circulation patterns in bodies of water and asks how they are altered by human interference and disturbance. For his research, he tracks the paths of trace elements and trace gases (isotopes, chemical compounds) in water, in particular in oceans and in groundwater. He observes their distribution in order to gain insights and information about the movements and formation rates of water masses as well as about their mixing processes. The results reveal, among other things, discoveries about the consequences of pollution, for example when harmful substances enter the water after an oil tanker accident. He uses models to analyse the physics of the circulation and to predict water movements on the basis of these analyses.

With his research team, Peter Schlosser studies, for example, how deep waters form at high latitudes in the ocean. His studies provided the initial evidence for a dramatic decrease in deep water formation in the Greenland Sea. The results show how sensitive the processes in the oceans are in relation to one another and how abruptly they react to disturbances and climate changes. In other studies, he was able to demonstrate evidence for an excess of the noble gases helium and neon in ocean water due to the melting ice sheets in Antarctica. This allows for a calculation of the melting rate for ice sheets.

Together with his team, Peter Schlosser works to find ways to alleviate the adverse effects of these disturbances. His research contributes to the basic understanding of ocean circulation and provides insights into the role of oceans in climate variability. In further projects, he examines the climate history of the earth (paleoclimatology) as well as the exchange of gases between the atmosphere and the oceans or continental bodies of water.

Career

• 2019 - 2021 Director, Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
• since 2018 Professor, School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
• since 2015 Professor of Geophysics, Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• since 2012 Deputy Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• since 2007 Research Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 1999-2014 Vinton Professor of Earth and Environmental Engineering, Columbia University, New     York City, USA
• 1998-1999 Professor, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Columbia University, New York     City, USA
• 1994 Visiting Professor, University of Washington, Seattle, USA
• since 1993 Senior Staff, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Palisades, USA
• since 1993 Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 1992 Tenure, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 1989-1992 Associate Professor, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 1986-1989 Research Assistant, Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
• 1985 PhD in Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
• 1981-1986 Research Associate, Institute of Environmental Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
• 1981 Diploma in Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
• 1975-1981 Degree in Physics, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany

Functions

• 2022 Dean, College of Global Futures, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
• 2022 Member, Ethical Framework for Climate Intervention Advisory Board, American Geophysical Union, USA
• since 2021 Chairperson, Strategic Evaluation Committee, Research Field Earth and Environment, Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, Bonn, Germany
• since 2021 Member, Science Council, Conservation International, Washington D.C., USA
• since 2021 Member, Board, American Geophysical Union (AGU), USA
• 2021 Chairperson, Development Board, American Geophysical Union, USA
• 2020 Chairperson, Scientific Advisory Committee, German Marine Research Alliance
• 2019 Co-Chairperson, The Earth League
• 2019 Member, College of Fellows Frontiers Committee, AGU, USA
• 2019 Member, Board, Carbon Collect Limited, Dublin, Ireland
• 2019 Member, Board, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, Scottsdale, USA
• 2019 Chairperson, Strategic Evaluation Committee, Research Field Earth and Environment, Helmholtz Association, Bonn, Germany
• since 2015 Dean, Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 2009-2015 Founding Dean, Earth Institute Faculty, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 2004-2012 Associate Director, The Earth Institute, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 2000-2003 Dean, Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, New York City, USA
• 2000-2003 Associated Chairperson, Henry Krumb School of Mines, Columbia University, New York City, USA

Projects

• 1989-1991 Applicant, Subproject “14-C Measurements in the Circumpolar Current and in the Weddell Sea in the Framework of METEOR-Mission 11/5” („14C-Messungen im Zirkumpolarstrom und in der Weddell-See im Rahmen der METEOR-Fahrt 11/5“), Priority Programme (SPP) 511, German Research Foundation (DFG)
• 1988-1991 Applicant, Subproject “Study of Deep Water Formation in the Greenland Sea via measurement of trace substances -METEOR-Mission Nr 8” („Untersuchung der Tiefenwasserbildung in der Grönlandsee mittels Spurenstoffmessungen – Meteor-Fahrt Nr. 8“), SPP 511, DFG

Honours and Memberships

• 2021 Distinguished Global Futures Scientist, Global Futures Scientists and Scholars, Arizona State University, Tempe, USA
• since 2016 Member, German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Germany
• 2012 Printing of groundwater dating publication as „Benchmark Paper“, IAHS
• 2011 Fellow, The Explorers Club, New York City, USA
• 2011 Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), USA
• 2007 Fellow, AGU, USA
• 1994 Vetlesen Fellow, University of Washington, Seattle, USA